Florida Atlantic left out of final AP Top 25 poll after record-setting season

Florida Atlantic’s most impressive football season in school history ended on a sour note.

The Owls were not in the final Top 25 Associated Press rankings that were released Tuesday morning. They were left out despite finishing the year with 10 straight wins, including a 50-3 rout against Akron in the Boca Raton Bowl. The margin of victory was the largest of this bowl season.

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“I’m a voter, and I’d vote for them,” Akron coach Tommy Bowden said after the loss.

Boise State, Memphis, UCF and South Florida were the only non-Power Five conference teams to earn a spot in the rankings. FAU did receive 32 votes. Earlier this year, coach Lane Kiffin said he felt the Owls had a strong chance of ending the season in the Top 25. He also said he would understand if they weren’t voted in because of early-season losses to Navy and Buffalo.

The Owls, who won their first Conference USA championship, return several starters, including running back Devin “Motor” Singletary, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and safety Jalen Young. Singletary was a third-team All-American after leading the nation with 32 touchdowns. Young ranked second nationally with seven interceptions while Al-Shaair was third in tackles with 147.

The Owls should get an early indication of how good they are when they open the 2018 season at Oklahoma, which lost to Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Three weeks later, they play at UCF, which completed an undefeated season with a victory against Auburn in the Peach Bowl.